270 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF FACTS. 



the situation in Cuba were adopted by Con- 

 gress. 



February 14. Senor Luis Polo y Bernabe 

 was appointed Spanish Minister to the United 

 States to succeed Senor De Lome. 



February 15. The battle-ship Maine was 

 blown up in the harbor of Havana by a float- 

 ing mine ; 260 American lives were destroyed. 



February 16. Spain officially expressed re- 

 gret for the Maine " incident." 



February 17. A naval court of inquiry into 

 the cause of the destruction of the Maine was 

 appointed by the United States Government. 



February 18-25. The Spanish cruiser Viz- 

 caya visited New York harbor. On the last 

 date she sailed for Havana. 



February 20. The Court of Inquiry began 

 its session in Havana. 



February 22. The cruiser Montgomery pro- 

 ceeded to Havana. 



March 5. Spain asked for the recall of 

 Consul-General Lee, which was promptly re- 

 fused by the United States Government. 



March 7. A bill appropriating $50,000,000 

 for the 'national defense was introduced in the 

 House of Representatives. It passed the 

 House March 8 and the Senate March 9, and 

 was signed by the President. 



March 11. The War Department began 

 the mobilization of the army. 



March 12. The battle-ship Oregon sailed 

 from San Francisco to join the Atlantic squad- 

 ron. 



March 12. Armistice was offered by Spain 

 to the Cuban insurgents. 



March 14. The Spanish* fleet sailed from 

 Cadiz for the Canary Islands. 



March 14. Senator Proctor's report on Span- 

 ish atrocities in Cuba was published. 



March 19. The Maine Court of Inquiry 

 completed its labors. Its report was deliv- 

 ered to the President March 25, and trans- 

 mitted by him to Congress March 28. 



March 25. Commodore Schley took com- 

 mand of the Flying Squadron in Hampton 

 Roads. 



March 30. The President requested per- 

 mission of Spain to relieve the reconcentrados, 

 which was granted. 



April 2. The Spanish fleet arrived at the 

 Cape de Verde Islands. 



April 4. The pope appealed to Spain in the 

 interests of peace. 



April 5. United States consuls in Cuba 

 were recalled. 



April 7. The diplomatic representatives of 

 the great powers of Europe waited on the Pres- 

 ident with a plea for peace. 



April 9. Consul-General Lee with many 

 Americans departed from Havana. 



April 11. The President sent a message to 

 Congress outlining the situation, declaring that 

 intervention was necessary, advising against 

 the recognition of the Cuban Government, 

 and requesting Congress to take action. 



April 19. Congress adopted resolutions de- 

 claring Cuba independent and directing the 

 President to use the forces of the United States 

 to put an end to Spanish authority in Cuba. 



April 20. The president signed the resolu- 

 tions of Congress. An ultimatum to Spain 

 was cabled to Minister Woodford. 



April 20. The Spanish Cortes met and re- 

 ceived a warlike message from the Queen- 

 Regent. 



April 21. The Spanish Government s^nt 

 Minister Woodford his passports, thus begin- 

 ning the war. 



April 21. Congress passed an act for in- 

 creasing the military establishment. 



April 21. Great Britain notified Spain that 

 coal was contraband of war. 



April 22. Proclamation to the neutral pow- 

 ers announcing war was issued by the President. 



April 22. Admiral Sampson's fleet sailed 

 from Key West. The blockade of Cuban ports 

 began. 



April 22. The gunboat Nashville captured 

 the Spanish ship Buena Ventura, the first prize 

 of the war. 



April 23. The President issued a call for 

 125,000 volunteers. 



April 24. Great Britain issued a procla- 

 mation of neutrality and was followed subse- 

 quently by the other powers, except Germany. 



April 24. Spain formally declared that war 

 existed with the United States. 



April 25. Congress passed an act declaring 

 that war had existed since April 21 . 



April 25. Commodore Dewey's fleet sailed 

 from Hong Kong for the Philippines. 



April 26. Congress passed an act for the 

 increase of the regular army. 



April 27. Batteries at Matanzas were bom- 

 barded. 



April 30. Admiral Cervera's fleet left the 

 Cape de Verde Islands for the West Indies. 



May 1. Commodore Dewey destroyed the 

 Spanish fleet at Manila. American loss, six 

 men slightly wounded. 



May 5-7. Riots in Spain. 



May 11. Commodore Dewey was made a 

 rear-admiral. 



May 11. Attack on Cienfuegos and Carde- 

 nas. Ensign Bagleyand four men on the tor- 

 pedo-boat Winslow were killed. 



May 11. Admiral Cervera's fleet appeared 

 off Martinique. 



May 12. Admiral Sampson bombarded San 

 Juan de Porto Rico. 



